Updated following the first comment. I realized I'd left out the links I usually provide.
Macon County Times:
Paul Fredrick Kuhn, age 17, of Lafayette was pronounced dead at Vanderbilt Medical Center after an apparent overdose of alcohol Saturday, April 15 [2006]
Kuhn was a junior at Macon County High School in Tennessee.
My sincere condolences to his family and friends.
Two men have been charged in relation to the boy's death.
According to WSMV in Nashville,
Investigators have charged a 23 year-old man for the alcohol related death of a Macon County High School student. Paul Kuhn, 17, passed away after police believe the teen drank too much alcohol during a Saturday night gathering with friends.
Detective Stacy Gann of the Macon County Sheriff's Department says Kuhn was drinking with several other juveniles and two adult males at a mobile home in Lafayette. Around 2am Saturday, someone at the house called 911 and reported Paul was unconscious.
"From the police report, they saw the male juvenile on the front porch. He was very sweaty and was foaming at the mouth," said Detective Gann.
Daniel Douglas Harper, 23, and has been charged with criminally negligent homicide because police believe Harper bought the alcohol for Kuhn and the other juveniles. Detective Gann says underage drinking is more prevalent than most people might think
"It is a problem, and will continue to be a problem, until we can get the young adults to make better decisions about what they do," said Detective Gann.
Kuhn's sister says she does not think Harper should go to prison because they were all friends and nobody forced her brother to drink.
Harper also faces three counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor. Michael Christopher McClellan, 21, faces these charges as well for buying a minor alcohol. Both men will appear in court next week.
Previous Posts
Underage Alcohol Deaths 2004
Underage Alcohol Deaths 2005
Underage Alcohol Deaths 2006
In all cases, my deepest condolences to family and friends.
Signs of Alcohol Poisoning
Alcohol
depresses nerves that control involuntary actions such as breathing,
the heartbeat and the gag reflex that prevents choking. A fatal dose of
alcohol will eventually stop these functions. After the victim stops
drinking, the heart keeps beating, and the alcohol in the stomach
continues to enter the bloodstream and circulate through the system.
The victim may experience the following:
- Mental confusion, stupor, coma, unable to rouse the person
- No response to pinching the skin
- Vomiting while sleeping or unresponsive
- Seizures
- Slowed breathing (fewer than 8 breaths per minute)
- Irregular breathing (10 seconds or more between breaths)
- Hypothermia (low body temperature), bluish skin color, paleness
Alcohol Poisoning Requires Immediate Medical Attention
Alcohol Poisoning Cannot Be Reversed By:
- Drinking black coffee
- Taking a cold bath or shower
- Walking it off
The victim must have immediate medical attention.
Call 911, stay with the victim to prevent him choking on vomit, and tell emergency personnel how much alcohol the victim drank.
These Children Died of Alcohol Overdose, So Their Parents Started Foundations:
Taylor Webster's memorial foundation. Taylor died of alcohol poisoning at age 19-- Now his family and friends are working to get the message out, telling their stories and providing information on alcohol poisoning and the signs and symtoms of alcohol poisoning in hopes that lives will be saved.
Bradley McCue's memorial foundation. On November 5, 1998 Bradley turned 21. . He celebrated his birthday in a way that has become increasingly popular, drinking "his age in shots". That amount of alcohol was lethal and he died that night of alcohol poisoning.
Samantha Spady's memorial foundation. A 19-year old student at Colorado State University, Spady died of alcohol poisoning on September 5, 2004, "an unintentional tragedy." The Spadys say the SAM [Student Alcohol Management] Spady Foundation will develop peer-to-peer counseling and other services meant to reduce the risk of alcohol abuse.
Gordie Bailey's memorial foundation Mission: to provide today’s youth with the skills to navigate the dangers of alcohol, and through education and promotion of self worth prevent alcohol poisoning, binge drinking and hazing.
Kimberly Ostien's memorial foundation: "With binge drinking on the rise, we feel it necessary to get the message out on the danger of alcohol, especially excessive alcohol consumed in a short period of time. Students are educated on drugs and alcohol but they will continue to experiment no matter what. We want to educate on what to do when a friend falls down or passes out from drinking. Often we want to put that person to bed to sleep it off and that is when the trouble can begin." The card lists the information, above.
Yes, Paul was a very close friend of mine and I dont appeciate typing in his name and comming to this site! It happend and it done with and I know that he wouldnt like to see his name everywhere over a mistake he made! The whole word does not need to know of the reason of his death or of the people involved, he made a mistake and he payed a terrible price for it. But should he still be having to pay the price from the grave with it being adveritsed pretty much on this site. I would very much appericate if you would remove this off this site and find a different way to inform about things like this!!! This is not the way kids need to learn not to do drugs or drink, the way they need to learn is differnt this will only upset thm not teach them
Posted by: JUST A FRIEND OF PAUL | Wednesday, May 09, 2007 at 02:19 PM
I was doing a google search on dear friend Paul, and I came upon this web site. I know that it is good to inform teens & kids about what can happen of drinking. I also know that this informs everyone about what happened. But Paul always told me that if he was to die that it would happen and that should be the end of it. I know that he wouldn't want this on your site. So can you please do a favor for me and take this off. Do it for him. He wouldn't like that to be on here. I know this site is to inform, but Paul isn't the only one you can use to inform, AND there was another boy umm named JONATHON HUDSON...who died by drinking...yes he feel over the boat but if he wouldn't have been drunk then mabey it wouldn't have happend...SOOO...Please take this off your site. If you don't I will have to inform his family about this AND i know they would not appreciate it...So thanks for taking in my concerteration...Sincerly,
A close friend of Paul...and...A speaker for him since he is no loner with us to speack upon his self!
Posted by: AN ANGRY FRIEND OF PAUL!!! | Sunday, June 17, 2007 at 06:26 PM
Paul was my cousin and I miss him dearly. I moved from TN when i was little so I only got to see Paul during the summer. But when i lived in TN Paul and I were close.
I believe that this article is not offensive. I believe he would want other kids to learn from his mistake and this is one step closer to doing so. It was very hard to lose my cousin and I would hope no one else would have to go through that. He was a good cousin, grandson, brother, and friend. as part of his family I don't believe this would upset the family at all. People need to be aware these things happen, as tragic as they are, its real.
RIP Paul F. Kuhn
Gone But Never Forgotten
Posted by: April | Monday, October 15, 2007 at 03:08 PM